Wheel machine



Feb. 25, 1941. I H 2,233,371

WHEEL- MACHINE I Filed April 9, 1938' 3 Sheets-Shegt 1 Gttorne Feb. 25, 1941. R. D. SMITH WHEEL MACHINE Filed April 9, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Rev [1.5mm 3nnentor 'Q/LL Gttorneg Feb. 25,1941. s n-H 2,233,371

WHEEL MACHINE Filed April 9, 1938 3 SheetsSheet 5 Patented Feb. 25, 1941 rrlcs PATENT.

WHEEL MACHINE Boy D. Smith, Davenport, Iowa, assignor to Bee Line-Manufacturing Company, Scott County, Iowa, a corporation of Iowa Application April 9, 1938, Serial No. 201,136 4 Claims. -(c1. 144 -2ss) The present invention pertains to mechanism for operating upon vehicle wheels, more particularly the wheels of automobiles and trucks, to correct errors of form, such as are the result of accidents. Among the objects of this invention are to provide a convenient mechanism for the purpose indicated; to providea mechanism for the purpose indicated which may be operated in various ways to remove the numerous bends,

will hereafter appear and as are inherent in the construction disclosed herein. My invention further resides in the combination, construction, and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings and, while I have shown therein what is now regarded as the preferred embodiment of this invention, I desire the same to be understood as illustrative only and not to be interpreted in a limiting sense.

In the drawings annexed hereto and forming a part hereof,

Fig. 1 represents a perspective of the major portion of my invention, ready to receive a wheel which is to be operated upon;

Fig. 2 represents a transverse section of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 with a wheel shown in position therein, in dotted lines, and ready to be operated upon;

Fig. 3 is a similar view with a hub and brake drum in position to be operated upon; I

Fig. 4 represents a perspective view of a wheel and a portion of the apparatus, the same being intended to amplify the disclosure of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 represents, in vertical section, a portion of this apparatus with a hub and brake drum mounted thereon in a different position from that shown in Fig. 3 and illustrating a different operation upon the hub and brake drum assembly;

and

Fig. 6 represents the apparatus of Fig. 1 set up for a different operation than any shown in any of the preceding figures.

Reference will now be made in greater detail to the annexed drawings for a-more complete description of this invention. A pair of base members l and 2 are constructed from suitable ma- -shown as made from angles.

terial, shown in the present instance as structural shapes, such as angles, and secured to these elements I and 2 are uprights 3 and 4, also These parts are secured together in any suitable way, as by welding, preferably electric or acetylene. Plates 5 connect. these angles in pairs, at the top, and then the plates are connected by channels 6, preferably by some type of welding. .The channels 6 are preferably placed with their flat sides toward each other and spaced apart somewhat so that a suspending means for a jack mayextend through the slot 1 between the channels. To the lower end of the suspending means is secured a jack 8 of suitable construction, the jack being 15 so positioned with relation to the channels that there is verydittle space between its base and the edges of the channels. Movement of the jack longitudinally of the channels is therefore permitted so that the jack may be placed any- 0 where desired for any particular operation to be performed upon a wheel. A carrier 9 for the jack is arranged to ride along the top of the channels 6. These channels connecting the uprights 3 and 4 at their upper end portions are 25 referred to herein, collectively, as a cross bar.

Below the cross bar, described above, is a cross member made up of different parts secured together by welding and, likewise, secured by welding to the uprights 3 and 4. One section of this 30 cross member comprises the channels l0 and H which are fastened at one end to a plate i2, which latter is secured to the uprights 4. The opposite ends of the channels l0 and H are connected by means of a connector I3 to which the parts [0 35 and II are preferably welded. A second member l4, similar to the member I3, connects the channels I0 and H and to these members l3 and I4 is secured a second sections l5 of the cross member. The second end of this member [5 is secured 40 to the uprights 3 in a manner comparable to the connection of the channels l0 and II to the uprights 4. This second element l5 of the cross member is secured to the members 13 and i4 so as to constitute a rigid connection between the 45 uprights 3 and 4. Also, the upper or supporting surface of the section I5 is, as clearly shown, at a lower elevation than the top of the section first described. On this section I5 is mounted a jack l8 which is utilized, as illustrated in Fig. 50 6, in operating upon a vehicle wheel to straighten the rim. n

A table l8 rests on top of the channels I0 and II and is readily slidable lengthwise thereof. This table is provided with arms l9 which engage under theupper flanges of the channels II and II and have screws 28 extending therethroughwhich may be tightened up to hold the is applied after the nut 22 is secured in place and this holds the nut against rotation with relation to thespindle. l herein to the use of angles and channels in the fabrication of the framework of this structure, it is to be understood that this frame may be made from other materials. Also, the parts may be secured together otherwise than by welding, 15 if desired. l

The spindle 2| is provided intermediate its ends with a shoulder which engages the under side of the base of the drum 24, being screwed into the drum tightly. The spindle is thus held 20 against longitudinal movement in the drum. However, it may move freely through the table l8, the nut 22 not being tightened up enough to draw the drum against the table. The shoulder results from the formation of a flange 2|a 25 about the periphery of the spindle.

A depression is formed in the upper face of the table H for the reception of the flang 2|a and a ring 25, which latter has a groove formed in its upper surface for the reception of balls 28 30 constituting part of a ball bearing. Pins 21 extend through openings in the table l8 and are surrounded by coiled springs 28 located in sockets in the table. These springs 28 lift the ring 25 and, through the balls 28, um the drum 24 35 away from the table I8. This reduces the friction between the table, and the drum so as to permit easy rotation of the, latter with relation to the former. The nuts 21a on the pins 21 are to be tightened up until the springs 28 are com- 40 pressed to a point such that the edge of the drum 24 just clears the table l8. When this apparatus is being used, the springs yield under downward pressure of the drum 24 and permit the drum to rest upon the table l8, the ring 28 being still 45 clear of the bottom of the depression in the table. Therefore, excessive pressure upon the balls 26 and the ring 25 is avoided and it is therefore not necessary to have a hardened ring for the ball race. 7

50 A coiled spring 29 surrounds the upper portion of the spindle 2| and rests at its lower end upon the upper face of the lower end of the drum 24. Upon the upper end of the spring 29 rests a cone 38 which has an axial opening for the reception 55 of the upper end of the spindle 2|. As shown in Fig. 2, the inner edge of the wheel disc rests upon the conical face of member 30' and the disc is therefore centered by the member 30. This member is readily slidable upon the spindle and 60 may be pushed downwardly by pressing downward upon the wheel. Blocks 3| are put in between the wheel disc and the ring 32 and then the nut 33is turned down until the disc.is held tightly against the upper end of the drum 24. The nut 35 has screw-threaded connection with the extension 34 which is screwed into the spindle 2|. When the nut 83 is screwed down tightly, the wheel is held rigidly to the table and may be operated on, either from above by means 70 of the jack 8 or from below by means of the jack Hi. The latter operation is shown in Fig. 6. This figure shows the right hand edge portion of the wheel bent downwardly and the jack |8 arranged to bend this back into desired form. 78 Figs. 3 and 5 represent the use of the jack 8 in While I have referred working upon the hub flange and the brake drum, respectively.

As is obvious from Fig, 1,' the element 38, which has been referred to as conical in form, is not strictly conical but comprises a sleeve, substantially cylindrical in form, and a plurality of wedge-shaped elements 36 which give to this element a somewhat conical shape so that it serves to properly position the wheel with respect to the drum when the hub disc is bent, this can be straightened, as indicated in Fig. 3, by substituting an extension 31 for the extension 34 and placing a. conical member 38 thereon, as illustrated clearly in Fig. 3. The hub is then mounted on this assembly and the cone 39 and nuts 40 are added. Now, when the jack 8 is put into position, as shown. and extended, the brake drum is forced into engagement with the plate 4| which was mounted on the drum 24 before the brake drum was put into position. Now, when the jack is extended still farther, the hub disc, which is ordinarily bent in the region of the edge of the hub flange, is pressed downwardly so as o remove the bend. When the disc has been satisfactorlly re-shaped and the drum tested by being rotated about the extension 31 to see whether it is uniformly distant at all points from the plate 4|, then the nut 40 and the cone 39 may be removed and the hub and drum put back in place.

Fig. 5 illustrates the use of this apparatus in straightening a. bent spot in the brake drum disc. In this operation, the parts 31 to 40, inclusive, may be omitted and the drum mounted on supporting posts 42 which are stood up on the plate 4|. The Jack 8 is now moved over the brake drum, as indicated, and a post 42 is inverted and inserted between the ram 43 of the jack 8 and the flange of the hub 44. Now, when the jack is extended, the bent indicated at 45 will be removed fromthe brake disc and the parts will be returned to normal position.

It will of course be understood that the specific description of structure set forth above may be departed from without departing from the spirit of this invention as set forth in this specification, provided the departure comes within the scope of the claims.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

1, A wheel-holding mechanism fora wheel machine comprising an approximately flat table, a drum rotatably mounted thereon, a spindle connected to the table and extending through the drum, means for holding the spindle attached to the table, a coiled spring surrounding said spindle and supported by the bottom of the drum, and holding means for positioning and holding a wheel to be operated upon, the last named means comprising a roughly conical member cooperating with the spindle and spring and adapted to be forced upwardly into the central aperture of 9. held wheel member and into engagement with the internal edge of said wheel member.

2. A- wheel-holding mechanism for a wheel machine, comprising a supporting table, a spindle rigidly supported thereby, a drum secured to the spindle with the spindle extending through the interior of the drum, a conical positioning member within a face opening of the drum, the tapered face of said conical member being directed upwardly, and a spring surrounding said spindle and bearing at one end against an inner face of the drum and at its other end against the conical member which transmits force from the spring to a wheel member supported on said machine.

3. In an apparatus for working upon wheel elements, the combination of a supporting frame,

a table carried thereby and having clamping means for clamping it to the frame, a spindle secured to the table and rising therefrom, a drum secured to the spindle and having its upper surface substantially perpendicular to the axis of the spindle, said drum being relatively rotatable with respect to said table about the axis of the spindle, said frame having a c-rossmember below its top to which said table may be clamped, a roughly conical member surrounding the spindle and adapted to slide upwardly thereon,. and a spring inside of the drum, surrounding the spindle and pressing upwardly against said roughly conical member to lift the upperend thereof above the drum.

4. A structure as defined by claim 3 in which the spindle is provided with an upwardly extending extension member upon which is slidably mounted an adjustable abutment member, said structure having blocks located between the abutment member and the disc of a wheel mounted on the drum to engage the conventional depressions in the wheel disc, and adjustable means for forcing the blocks to press a wheel disc against an end of the drum.

ROY D. SMITH. 

